BT Openzone

Not sure if this is the right group, but has anyone used this?

I have just moved into a new flat and as I don't expect to be there long, I
don't want to get the phone connected.

Fortunately, just down the road is a BT HotSpot (in McDs) that I can see and
connect to (with 3 bars).

The instructions to use say:

1) Insert Wi-Fi card or switch on wireless capability
2) Select BT Openzone from the Wi-FI signal icon in your system tray and
connect to the signal
3) Open your web browser and a BT login page will appear

I managed 1 and 2 but at step 3 I just get a blank screen. The 'connection'
icon says "Connect for Local access only", if that means anything to anyone

Does anyone have any ideas?

(Perhaps I should go and ask in McDs?).

tim


....

---

› See More: BT Openzone

"BGN" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 4 Jun 2008 16:20:32 +0100, "tims next home"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Not sure if this is the right group, but has anyone used this?
>>
>>I have just moved into a new flat and as I don't expect to be there long,
>>I
>>don't want to get the phone connected.
>>
>>Fortunately, just down the road is a BT HotSpot (in McDs) that I can see
>>and
>>connect to (with 3 bars).
>>
>>The instructions to use say:
>>
>>1) Insert Wi-Fi card or switch on wireless capability
>>2) Select BT Openzone from the Wi-FI signal icon in your system tray and
>>connect to the signal
>>3) Open your web browser and a BT login page will appear
>>
>>I managed 1 and 2 but at step 3 I just get a blank screen. The
>>'connection'
>>icon says "Connect for Local access only", if that means anything to
>>anyone
>>
>>Does anyone have any ideas?
>>
>>(Perhaps I should go and ask in McDs?).
>
> I walked into my local McD's recently with my iPhone and noticed that
> there's a free thing which one can sign into by just giving name,
> postcode and email address. It saved having to sign into anything as
> I was expecting that I would have to confirm email addresses, click
> other links, etc.
>
> Anyway, if you don't get that then all you need to do is connect to
> the WiFi network and then open a web browser and go to any website.
> Like on other "The Cloud", T-Mobile and BTOpenZone hotspots you should
> be bounced to their sign-in page where you can select from a list of

I get "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" - the same as I get if
I tur my wireless off.

tim

On Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:04:42 +0100, "tims next home"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I get "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" - the same as I get if
>I tur my wireless off.

Have you got your computer set to use static IP, DNS, etc?
--
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Gwyn <g@> wrote:

> On Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:07:21 +0100, BGN <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >>1) Insert Wi-Fi card or switch on wireless capability
> >>2) Select BT Openzone from the Wi-FI signal icon in your system tray and
> >>connect to the signal
> >>3) Open your web browser and a BT login page will appear
>
> >Anyway, if you don't get that then all you need to do is connect to
> >the WiFi network and then open a web browser and go to any website.
> >Like on other "The Cloud", T-Mobile and BTOpenZone hotspots you should
>
> Don't forget BT dump the cloud on June 8th.

Do they?

Do you have a link for that, as it's the first I've heard of it - if
this is the case, I'll seriously consider ditching BT and moving to Sky
Broadband.
--
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Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

"BGN" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:04:42 +0100, "tims next home"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I get "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" - the same as I get
>>if
>>I tur my wireless off.
>
> Have you got your computer set to use static IP, DNS, etc?

I have no idea.

How might I have done this?

As a follow up, I went into McDs and asked about this, but (as expected)
they knew nothing, so I tried to log on inside the building. And there I
got a completely different hotspot (with 5 bars that I could log into) and
the other one had reduced to zero bars, so it's obviously not the one there!
I shall have to wander around in the street looking for it

tim

On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 16:48:41 +0100, "tims next home"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"BGN" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:04:42 +0100, "tims next home"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>I get "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" - the same as I get
>>>if
>>>I tur my wireless off.
>>
>> Have you got your computer set to use static IP, DNS, etc?
>
>I have no idea.
>
>How might I have done this?
>
>As a follow up, I went into McDs and asked about this, but (as expected)
>they knew nothing, so I tried to log on inside the building. And there I
>got a completely different hotspot (with 5 bars that I could log into) and
>the other one had reduced to zero bars, so it's obviously not the one there!
>I shall have to wander around in the street looking for it

Good idea. What is the other hotspot called?

McD's ones around here are The Cloud. If the other one shows up as a
BTOpenZone then it could be a hotel or something (go to the BTOpenZone
website and search for hotspots on the map) or it could be a La Fonera
UK point. This is some dude with a BTHomeHub who has signed up to BT
FON. The 2nd WiFi signal on their HomeHub will then accept
connections and show up as a BTHomeHub.

I have to admit that my HomeHub also emits a BT FON "BTOpenZone" which
didn't ever emit anything useful when I connected to it so I expected
that this was the case for you too, but I just grabbed my iPhone and
swapped over to 'my' BTOpenZone and after opening a browser and
heading to facebook have been bounced to the BT FON website which
lists three connection options:

BT FON - BT TOtal Broadband
BT FON - Others/FON
BT Openzone

Good luck with your WiFi hunting.

If you can't find that BTOpenzone on the BTOpenZone website then head
over to the BT FON website as only one lists residential hotspots.
--
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: [email protected]
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk -- Touch -
-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11

"BGN" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 16:48:41 +0100, "tims next home"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>"BGN" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>> On Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:04:42 +0100, "tims next home"
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I get "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" - the same as I get
>>>>if
>>>>I tur my wireless off.
>>>
>>> Have you got your computer set to use static IP, DNS, etc?
>>
>>I have no idea.
>>
>>How might I have done this?
>>
>>As a follow up, I went into McDs and asked about this, but (as expected)
>>they knew nothing, so I tried to log on inside the building. And there I
>>got a completely different hotspot (with 5 bars that I could log into) and
>>the other one had reduced to zero bars, so it's obviously not the one
>>there!
>>I shall have to wander around in the street looking for it
>
> Good idea. What is the other hotspot called?

The one in McDs was "the Cloud", and I now see from their website that it's
free (you are presented with a login screen but you make up an account name
or something) so it's not surprising that it's not available away from the
store.

I've been back to the Openzone website and discovered how to get the
provider's details. The four hotspots in the shopping centre are all "The
cloud" and the one that belongs to BT is on an Industrial site 4 times a far
away as McDs is. However, the one thing that is weird is that it's at the
back of my apartment and the signal is strongest in the front.

Anyway, I'll just have to wander in that direction and see if it gets easier
to connect to. I really do hope that I can get this to work, all the other
alternatives require a 12, 18 or 24 month contract which IMHO is utterly
ridiculous.

tim







> McD's ones around here are The Cloud. If the other one shows up as a
> BTOpenZone then it could be a hotel or something (go to the BTOpenZone
> website and search for hotspots on the map) or it could be a La Fonera
> UK point. This is some dude with a BTHomeHub who has signed up to BT
> FON. The 2nd WiFi signal on their HomeHub will then accept
> connections and show up as a BTHomeHub.
>
> I have to admit that my HomeHub also emits a BT FON "BTOpenZone" which
> didn't ever emit anything useful when I connected to it so I expected
> that this was the case for you too, but I just grabbed my iPhone and
> swapped over to 'my' BTOpenZone and after opening a browser and
> heading to facebook have been bounced to the BT FON website which
> lists three connection options:
>
> BT FON - BT TOtal Broadband
> BT FON - Others/FON
> BT Openzone
>
> Good luck with your WiFi hunting.
>
> If you can't find that BTOpenzone on the BTOpenZone website then head
> over to the BT FON website as only one lists residential hotspots.
> --
> -- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: [email protected]
> -- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk -- Touch -
> -- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11

On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 18:15:30 +0100, "tims next home"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>The one in McDs was "the Cloud", and I now see from their website that it's
>free (you are presented with a login screen but you make up an account name
>or something) so it's not surprising that it's not available away from the
>store.
>
>I've been back to the Openzone website and discovered how to get the
>provider's details. The four hotspots in the shopping centre are all "The
>cloud" and the one that belongs to BT is on an Industrial site 4 times a far
>away as McDs is. However, the one thing that is weird is that it's at the
>back of my apartment and the signal is strongest in the front.

The joys of reflected (if that's the right word) radio signals!

>Anyway, I'll just have to wander in that direction and see if it gets easier
>to connect to. I really do hope that I can get this to work, all the other
>alternatives require a 12, 18 or 24 month contract which IMHO is utterly
>ridiculous.

I'm sure there are 'mobile broadband' deals out there which work on a
30-day rolling contract.

<rummages>

Three* = £15 per 30 days (3Gb) on Pay As You Go
<http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/detail.omp>

Vodafone = £20 per 30 days (3Gb) (rolling 30 day contract?)
<http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/mobile-broadband/mobilebroadband/&planDuration=30>

o2 = £20 per month (not sure of the usage) (glue on to contract or
exising PaYG - T&C's are at bottom of the page + gives use of WiFi
hotspots too, it implies)
<http://shop.o2.co.uk/promo/o2broadbandhub>

T-Mobile 'up to £4 a day' (If it's like their other 'don't pay for
data ahead' plans then you get charged a certain percentage of the £4
for every bit of data you use, but when you've used that up the entire
data package cannot add up to more than £4 a day, so if you didn't use
it one day then you don't get charged for it, and if you only use it
very little one day the nyou won't pay the full £4 that day - check
with your local shoppe for details as they'll know better than I!)
<http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband/data-plans/pay-as-you-go/>

So there you go - other options without having to use WiFi!

And, another option: If you know that a neighbour has WiFi within
range and has it on all the time (and has unlimited bandwidth to use!)
then why not throw five or ten quid to them every month so they can
share their WiFi key with you - no contract there, but might not be
super reliable)

* My brother uses the Three option and hasn't had any problems. I
suppose it all depends on which provider you know has good 3G coverage
inside your place. Remember that the traffic that goes from the
mobile phone cell/tower has limited bandwidth and that's shared with
things like SMS and phone calls so it might be a bit slow at time but
rather reasonable at others. A friend who was in hospital for a while
upped his T-Mobile web'n'walk use to the top tier on their contract
when he was in hospital and quite happily played World of Warcraft for
a few months while he was recovering on his laptop with a mobile phone
on the end of a USB cable. Obviously the ping reply might have been a
bit high, but it's better than watching daytime TV!
--
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: [email protected]
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk -- Touch -
-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11

"BGN" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 18:15:30 +0100, "tims next home"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>The one in McDs was "the Cloud", and I now see from their website that
>>it's
>>free (you are presented with a login screen but you make up an account
>>name
>>or something) so it's not surprising that it's not available away from the
>>store.
>>
>>I've been back to the Openzone website and discovered how to get the
>>provider's details. The four hotspots in the shopping centre are all "The
>>cloud" and the one that belongs to BT is on an Industrial site 4 times a
>>far
>>away as McDs is. However, the one thing that is weird is that it's at the
>>back of my apartment and the signal is strongest in the front.
>
> The joys of reflected (if that's the right word) radio signals!
>
>>Anyway, I'll just have to wander in that direction and see if it gets
>>easier
>>to connect to. I really do hope that I can get this to work, all the
>>other
>>alternatives require a 12, 18 or 24 month contract which IMHO is utterly
>>ridiculous.
>
> I'm sure there are 'mobile broadband' deals out there which work on a
> 30-day rolling contract.
>
> <rummages>
>
> Three* = £15 per 30 days (3Gb) on Pay As You Go
> <http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/detail.omp>
>
> Vodafone = £20 per 30 days (3Gb) (rolling 30 day contract?)
> <http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/mobile-broadband/mobilebroadband/&planDuration=30>

You're better at this than me. I just found the 24 month contract thingy.

thanks.

>
> And, another option: If you know that a neighbour has WiFi within
> range and has it on all the time (and has unlimited bandwidth to use!)
> then why not throw five or ten quid to them every month so they can
> share their WiFi key with you - no contract there, but might not be
> super reliable)


I had thought of this, but I can hardly go down the street knocking on doors
asking who is the owner of the half a dozen secure networks that I can see

> * My brother uses the Three option and hasn't had any problems. I
> suppose it all depends on which provider you know has good 3G coverage

Finding out who gives me a good signal could be tricky. Perhaps I could
find out in the local shops.

Thanks

tim

On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 20:51:09 +0100, "tims next home"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>> And, another option: If you know that a neighbour has WiFi within
>> range and has it on all the time (and has unlimited bandwidth to use!)
>> then why not throw five or ten quid to them every month so they can
>> share their WiFi key with you - no contract there, but might not be
>> super reliable)
>
>I had thought of this, but I can hardly go down the street knocking on doors
>asking who is the owner of the half a dozen secure networks that I can see

If you speak to or know any of them it would be easier.

>> * My brother uses the Three option and hasn't had any problems. I
>> suppose it all depends on which provider you know has good 3G coverage
>
>Finding out who gives me a good signal could be tricky. Perhaps I could
>find out in the local shops.

The most basic of basic hunts around the network websites will give
you this info.

Or perhaps you could go to the websites of the major networks and
check out what their 3G coverage is like, or if you have a mobile
phone does your mobile give decent quality coverage inside the home?
If it does then perhaps you could use your existing network.

T-Mobile's coverage:
<http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/coverage/street-check/>

Orange's coverage:
<http://web.orange.co.uk/coverage/?channel=direct/>

o2's coverage:
<http://www.webmap.o2.co.uk/>

Vodafone's coverage:
<http://maps.vodafone.co.uk/coverageviewer/web/default.aspx>

Three's ('broadband') coverage:
<http://www.three.co.uk/personal/coverage_/broadbandCoverageChecker.do>
--
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: [email protected]
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk -- Touch -
-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11

"BGN" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 20:51:09 +0100, "tims next home"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> And, another option: If you know that a neighbour has WiFi within
>>> range and has it on all the time (and has unlimited bandwidth to use!)
>>> then why not throw five or ten quid to them every month so they can
>>> share their WiFi key with you - no contract there, but might not be
>>> super reliable)
>>
>>I had thought of this, but I can hardly go down the street knocking on
>>doors
>>asking who is the owner of the half a dozen secure networks that I can see
>
> If you speak to or know any of them it would be easier.

Well obviously.

I moved in yesterday and I need Broadband by tomorrow.

I confess to not being the most friendliest of people, but I challenge
anyone to get to know all their neighbours that quickly.

>
>>> * My brother uses the Three option and hasn't had any problems. I
>>> suppose it all depends on which provider you know has good 3G coverage
>>
>>Finding out who gives me a good signal could be tricky. Perhaps I could
>>find out in the local shops.
>
> The most basic of basic hunts around the network websites will give
> you this info.
>
> Or perhaps you could go to the websites of the major networks and
> check out what their 3G coverage is like,

I trust this information less than I trust an item in the Daily Mail
(especially for indoor coverage).

> or if you have a mobile
> phone does your mobile give decent quality coverage inside the home?
> If it does then perhaps you could use your existing network.

I have GSM, This is not going to tell me how good 3G Broadband is.

thanks

tim

On Sat, 7 Jun 2008 12:42:31 +0100, "tims next home"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I moved in yesterday and I need Broadband by tomorrow.

Have a quick squint at the coverage maps and then see if there's a lot
of 'excellent' coverage around your area. If there is then it's
likely to be better guess than if there was excellent coverage which
stops nearby, I guess.

>I confess to not being the most friendliest of people, but I challenge
>anyone to get to know all their neighbours that quickly.

God no, I can't stand people.

>> or if you have a mobile
>> phone does your mobile give decent quality coverage inside the home?
>> If it does then perhaps you could use your existing network.
>
>I have GSM, This is not going to tell me how good 3G Broadband is.

Right, you need to throw a 3G only swingers party so you can see what
stuff is like!

Pop to Tesco and grab some cocktail sausages and chop a block of
cheese into little cubes in readiness as well as getting some nibbles
and a bottle of meths to get drunk with in preperation.
--
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: [email protected]
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk -- Touch -
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